Workers Daily Internet Edition Year 2002 No. 52

Year 2002 No. 52, March 15, 2002	ARCHIVE	HOME	SEARCH	SUBSCRIBE

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Teachers’ Militant One-Day Strike

At least half a million children missed classes on Thursday as teachers took their first industrial action over pay for 30 years. More than half London's schools – at least 1,000 – closed or faced disruption as members of the National Union of Teachers took strike action in protest over cost of living allowances. WDIE vigorously supports the action of the teachers in pursuance of their just demands.

David Hart, leader of the headteachers' union, the NAHT, added to fears that strikes may escalate. "There will be disruption for a lot of parents today and there will be the danger of children being out on the streets. Of course I regret that," he said. He added: "But this is just a one-day strike. The real danger is that if it escalates we could be in a much more serious position. We share the NUT's aspirations but we don't think a one-day strike will move the Government. I am very worried that this will escalate if ministers don't take the problem seriously."

NUT union leaders also warned that more severe strike action could be on the way. General secretary Doug McAvoy said teachers were striking for the sake of pupils. He said: "Children's education is being severely disrupted by the constant turnover of supply staff because they cannot attract teachers to permanent jobs. The London allowance is simply not enough."

Education Secretary Estelle Morris promised that she would take a tough stance over the strike. "Striking will achieve nothing but damage to pupils, parents and teachers themselves," said her spokesman. Her words were backed by shadow education secretary Damian Green who warned: "I do not support strikes which damage the education of children."

The words of the head, a teacher and parents at one school, Addison Primary School, reflect the sentiment of both parents and teachers.

"Strength of Feeling"

Bob Vereycken has been head of Addison Primary School for more than 20 years. He said: "Today's strike is just for one day, and we are doing our best to minimise the impact on children, but they will lose a day's education. You can't ignore that. What really worries me, however, is that the strike action will spread and be repeated. I have to be realistic and recognise that is a real prospect."

He added: "This school wasn't a militant school in the Eighties, when there was a spate of strikes. The fact that five teachers have decided to go on strike this time illustrates the strength of feeling. I would have preferred it if there had been no disruption. But it's something I have to leave to the consciences of my staff."

Mr Vereycken knows all too well the impact on his staff of the cost of living in the capital. Two or three staff leave his school every year, half of them for schools elsewhere in the country, and half leaving teaching for good.

"The reason I worry about the possibility of more strikes is because the Government doesn't seem to be listening," he said.

"Committed to the Children"

Sharon Plummeridge has taught at Addison School for eight years, and in London for 11. She considers herself lucky to have been able to afford a house. "That's only because my partner works. There are many other teachers I know who are still living like students," she said.

"It's just a matter of fairness really. Policemen get twice as much to help meet living costs in London and I don't see why teachers should be different. We have all worked hard to deliver what the Government has asked on literacy and numeracy. We should be rewarded accordingly. This school lost teachers last year because they just decided their standard of life in London didn't reflect the work they put in."

Ms Plummeridge added: "Of course we don't want to have to strike. I am committed to the children in this school just like the other teachers."

"I Support What the Children Are Doing"

Olga Gakovic said that although she supports the strike she fears the prospect of further industrial action. "If there were to be more strikes, that would worry me," she said. "But I support what the teachers are doing today."

Her daughter, Divna, 10, is missing a day's school: "But if something good comes out of it, she will benefit in the end," she said. "I think the pay that teachers get is appalling. Living in London is so expensive. I hope the Government takes notice and pays them more."

Other parents also supported the teachers. Father-of-three Andrew Moreau, whose two daughters and son attend Addison primary school, said: "Teaching is a difficult job and teachers deserve to be paid properly for what they do."

Spain on Alert on Eve of EU Summit

Spain has thrown its navy and air force into shielding European Union leaders from threatened violence in Barcelona on the eve of an EU summit where they hope to revive "free-market" economic reforms.

But 100,000 trade unionists from around Europe marched peacefully under red banners through the Catalan port city on March 14, serving notice on the 15 governments of just how much hostility they face in bringing Europe's economies further in line with the neo-liberal agenda.

Jet fighters, missile batteries and naval patrols protect the Summit from September 11-style raids and 8,500 police are on hand to keep street protesters at bay.

F-18 fighters were on alert to intercept any intruding aircraft, a conference source said. A NATO airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane will patrol the skies over the city, an official at alliance headquarters in Brussels said. Ground-to-air missiles have been brought in to the military section of Barcelona airport and naval patrol ships are watching the Catalan coast, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo said. "Barcelona is experiencing the greatest concentration of police ever recorded in a Spanish city," El Mundo said, saying they exceeded precautions taken for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

"We want a Europe of the workers and not only a Europe of the companies, of the big enterprises," said one Italian trade unionist. A big anti-globalisation rally is planned for Saturday.

Thousands of power workers had also taken to the streets of Paris on Thursday, accusing the leaders of sacrificing their jobs to the EU.

Two years ago in Lisbon the EU set itself the grand goal of overtaking the United States as the world's most competitive economy by 2010. But two years on, the world economic slowdown has intensified.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the summit must aid recovery. "Barcelona must achieve substantial progress in the liberalisation of gas and electricity markets, the integration of financial markets and services and the liberalisation of rail transport," he told Barcelona's La Vanguardia newspaper.

Among other business, EU members agreed to lift the bloc's development aid spending to an average 0.39 percent of national income from 0.33 by 2006, an EU source said.

The presidents of Yugoslavia and Montenegro were due in Barcelona on Friday after the EU's Solana had helped them draft a deal to avoid Montenegro seceding. Leaders of 13 candidates for EU entry were also due in town. The EU may issue a statement on the Middle East on Friday, EU sources said.

A joint article on the EU summit in Barcelona by Tony Blair and the Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, appeared on March 12, entitled "Modernising Europe’s Economic Structures".

They write that a European knowledge economy "with a highly skilled workforce and social policies reflecting twin goals of justice and full employment" can only be achieved if "we are prepared to reform". "Reform and modernisation require hard choices," they continue; "in Europe we have taken some tough decisions... But there is more we can do. The current economic slowdown is a further challenge, making reform more urgent. Europe's businesses and citizens expect us to meet that challenge. We remain determined to do so."

The European working class and people will not accept the "hard choices" of "reform and modernisation" dictated by the EU leaders, including Tony Blair, in the interests of the monopolies. They are opposed to the imposition of the neo-liberal agenda of globalisation, which is intensifying the devastation caused by the economic recession. "Justice and full employment" remain nothing but phrases, while the reality is that the working class and people are suffering from the "tough decisions" taken by the EU leaders in the interests of the so-called "free-market economy" and building up the EU as an economic, political and military bloc in contention with the US and other economic interests, and demanding unfettered control of the economies by finance capital.

The European working class and people are demanding their sovereignty, the right to be the decision makers, and affirming that a different world is possible.

Putting the Aggressor and the Victim on a Par

Since Israel stepped up the scope of its occupation of the Palestinian territories on February 28 and its murderous activities to "force the Palestinians to the bargaining table" on their terms, the Palestinian resistance has shown the whole world the justice of its cause. This in turn has forced the US to recognise the Israeli violence and issue statements of condemnation. Whereas up to now the US has been egging on Israelis by putting all the blame for the violence on the Palestinians, it is now blaming "both sides", seen in its appeal not just to the Palestinians to end the violence, but to "both sides".

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said on NBC's "Meet the Press": "We fully understand Israel's need to defend itself, and we fully understand that the Israeli people have been under a terrorist threat and, indeed, horrible terrorist attacks." However, this time she added, "We've always asked the Israelis to remember that, whatever they do, there has to be another day and that next day needs to be one in which conditions are better for peace." She referred to the trip of US envoy Anthony Zinni to the Middle East, saying: "So without making any judgments about Israeli efforts to defend itself, we're simply asking all parties to create better conditions for peace."

US Secretary of State Colin Powell told the US Congress: "Prime Minister Sharon has to take a hard look at his policies to see whether they will work.... If you declare war on the Palestinians and think you can solve the problem by seeing how many Palestinians can be killed – I don't know that leads us anywhere." Powell reiterated his demand for "more action from Arafat against Islamic extremists", Agence France Presse (AFP) reported. He told CBS's "Face the Nation" on March 10: "I condemn the acts of violence that were perpetrated on March 9 against innocent Israeli citizens." However, this time he also said, "I also have to be concerned about some of the responses from the Israeli side." "I know that [the Israelis] are executing acts of self-defence. They're under attack. But at the same time, I think we have to be careful about situations where ... Red Crescent doctors and people like that are injured," Powell said.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "Right now, both sides should think through the consequences of the policies they're following." Boucher further stated that "both parties need to take a hard look at what they're doing now and take the necessary steps" (so that they can implement existing plans to forge a ceasefire and bring about a resumption of a political dialogue). Boucher reiterated the US stand that "Arafat bore a special responsibility and had to take further steps to curtail anti-Israel attacks", AFP says, but it added that Boucher "also made clear that Sharon also had to act as well to restrain military responses".

On March 10, Boucher said that it is "imperative" the Israeli Defence Forces "exercise the utmost restraint and discipline to avoid further harm to civilians". Further discrediting US apologetics when it comes to its own "collateral damage", Boucher expressed concern about that of the Israelis. "Above all ... civilians should not be targeted, and every precaution must be taken to prevent civilian casualties in these military actions," he said. "[W]e're very concerned about repeated Israeli Defence Force actions, whether they're deliberate or not, against humanitarian workers, Red Cross, Red Crescent officials, ambulances, hospitals, individuals attempting to transit checkpoints for urgent humanitarian reasons," Boucher added.

This US appeal to "both sides" to end the violence in the Israeli assault on the Palestinians shows the difficulties facing US foreign policy. The US seeks to monopolise the use of terror and force. It condones Israel's use of it so long as it furthers US interests. Now it is preparing public opinion to attack Iraq and is positioning itself on the moral highground.

However, the heroic resistance struggle of the Palestinian people and the steadfastness of their leadership will not allow the US policy to win out. The Palestinian leadership has systematically pursued the goal of the Palestinian people for their own state and restoration of their rights and on this basis averted all the provocations which the US and Israel have launched against them.

The British working class and all justice-loving people must raise their voices in support of the just cause of the Palestinian people and condemn Israeli occupation and aggression. They must demand that the British government do the same.

UN Security Council Resolution on Israel and Palestine

On March 12, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1397 which, according to a UN press release, "affirmed a vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognised borders". It also called upon the Israeli and Palestinian sides and their leaders "to co-operate in the implementation of the Tenet work plan and Mitchell Report recommendations with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement," the UN reports.

The press release continues, "By other terms of the resolution, the Council stressed the need for all concerned to ensure the safety of civilians and the need to respect the universally accepted norms of international humanitarian law. Further, it welcomed and encouraged the diplomatic efforts of special envoys from the United States, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations Special Co-ordinator and others, to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. It also expressed its support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and others to assist the parties to halt the violence and resume the peace process and welcomed the contribution of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia."

It is the first time that a Security Council resolution has explicitly referred to a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. The resolution, which was drafted by the US, passed 14-0 with Syria abstaining.

At the Security Council meeting, Syrian UN ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, explained his abstention. He said his delegation had submitted a draft resolution that it believed had been "simple and which could effectively achieve the objectives of the international community". "That draft avoided complications and dealt with the situation on the ground in the occupied territories, as well as the tragic events in the Middle East region. It frankly addressed the killing and destruction of the Palestinian people by Israel," he stated.

"Despite flexibility shown by the Arab side, that spirit had not been met by those that had submitted the resolution before the Council tonight," Wehbe added. The draft under consideration, he continued, did not take into account any Arab concerns. His delegation believed the document was "weak and that it did not deal with the root question at the heart of this issue – the Israeli occupation". "Indeed, the resolution treated the killer and the victim equally," he said.

He said the "destruction committed by the Israeli occupation forces, the killing in mass concentration camps – holding some 2,000 Palestinians – must be condemned". "To talk about security arrangements in the crisis situation, especially in view of the daily massacres committed by Israel in the occupied territories and in the densely populated camps, amounted to a failure. The Council must instead call for a peace that was comprehensive and just, based on resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid Conference and the principle of land for peace. It must also make Israel responsible for carrying out the tenets of those resolutions, or they would remain ineffective," he said.

He reiterated that the draft had not made any reference to the Madrid Conference nor to the need to ensure a just and comprehensive peace in the region. His delegation considered those two concerns "among the minimum requirements to make a strong statement". "It was also unfortunate that the draft had not demanded that the occupying Power should respect the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in armed conflict," he said, another minimum his delegation had requested and which had not been included. In view of those facts, he said, his delegation would abstain from the vote.

Nasser Kidwa, the Palestinian UN representative, said the resolution would help "pave the way" for a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "This is a helpful resolution," he said. "It is the first time that the Security Council spells out the vision of two states."

Israel's UN ambassador, Yehuda Lancry, called the resolution "balanced" and said it could help restart negotiations.

"Diplomats here said that the US initiative appeared calculated to demonstrate that the Bush administration is committed to supporting Palestinian aspirations at a time when Vice President Cheney is discussing possible military action against Iraq with Arab leaders," news sources report.

At a meeting with the UN Security Council on March 12, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the first time publicly characterised Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands as unlawful. He told the Security Council that the Israeli government is eroding its standing in the world through an escalating military campaign that is heaping "daily humiliation" on ordinary Palestinians. "You must end the illegal occupation. You must stop the bombing of civilian areas, the assassinations, the unnecessary use of lethal force, the demolition and the daily humiliation of ordinary Palestinians," Annan said.

According to reports, US and British officials blocked the Security Council from issuing a statement endorsing Annan's remarks on the grounds that "Israel's initial invasion of Palestinian lands during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war was not necessarily illegal".

UN Security Council Resolution 1397

Adopted March 12, 2002

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),

Affirming a vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognised borders,

Expressing its grave concern at the continuation of the tragic and violent events that have taken place since September 2000, especially the recent attacks and the increased number of casualties,

Stressing the need for all concerned to ensure the safety of civilians,

Stressing also the need to respect the universally accepted norms of international humanitarian law,

Welcoming and encouraging the diplomatic efforts of special envoys from the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations Special Co-ordinator and others to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,

Welcoming the contribution of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah,

1. Demands immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction;

2. Calls upon the Israeli and Palestinian sides and their leaders to co-operate in the implementation of the Tenet work plan and Mitchell Report recommendations with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement;

3. Expresses support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and others to assist the parties to halt the violence and to resume the peace process;

4. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Palestinian National Authority Reiterates Principled Stand

In a statement on March 10, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said, "Israel is delusional if it is building its hopes on the illusion that this aggressive war against our people could deter it and its leadership from continuing the battle of steadfastness against [Israeli] occupation aggression, and settlement activity, as well as war crimes against our civilians in the cities, towns and refugee camps." It added that "the Palestinian people, who are engaged in defending its land and national presence, will undoubtedly realise independence and build an independent Palestinian state through the unshakeable will and unrelenting perseverance this people is armed with. There is no doubt that the Palestinian people's struggle and hard work will bring about an independent Palestine."

In a statement on March 8, the PNA said: "The Palestinian people will stand firm and steadfast in the face of a war waged by Israeli trio Ariel Sharon, prime minister, Benjamin Ben Aliezer, war minister, and Shaol Mofaz, chief of staff." With Israel pressing ahead with its assaults on the Palestinian areas and people, peace and stability in the region remains a far-fetched objective, the statement said.

In a March 6 statement the PNA said, "The leadership holds the Israeli Government fully responsible for the latest wave of escalations and devastating attacks against the Palestinian people and the Presidential HQs, in Ramallah and Gaza City." It added, "The Israeli aggression will lead to more violence and instability."

In a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on March 8, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat called for immediate US intervention to stop the massacres taking place in the territories. President Arafat said on that the Israeli practices which killed over 60 Palestinians in two days have returned the images of Sabra and Shatila, Qibia, Nahaleen and Khan Younis massacres, where the Israeli occupation forces committed massive massacres against the Palestinians.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, aide to President Arafat, said: "Sharon must realise that he cannot obtain an end to the violence with a military solution. His declaration on negotiations of a truce 'under fire' has no value, he must stop his massacres and aggression against the Palestinian people."

Palestinian information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo denounced Israel's "systematic state terrorism" and said the world community had a "moral obligation" to intervene, AFP reported.

International Seminar in Paris Marks 25th Anniversary of CILRECO

On March 9 in Paris, an International Seminar was held to mark the 25th Anniversary of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace of Korea (CILRECO). Delegates participated from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, France, India, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States as well as various international NGOs. A delegation from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) participated. From Britain, representatives of the Korea Friendship and Solidarity Campaign (KFSC), Society for Friendship with Korea (SFK), New Communist Party and Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) attended. RCPB(ML) was represented by Chris Coleman, National Spokesperson.

The seminar was opened by Amar Bentoumi, former Justice Minister of Algeria and Honorary President of CILRECO. He spoke movingly of how the hopes for reunification raised by the North-South Joint Declaration of June 15, 2000, had been dashed by the dangerous stand taken by the US Bush administration, which threatened international disorder and real cataclysm. He said the seminar would make a precious contribution to international solidarity with the DPRK. The keynote address was given by Professor Robert Charvin of the University of Nice, Secretary General of the International Committee of Jurists for Democracy and Human Rights in South Korea and Honorary President of CILRECO. Professor Charvin spoke of the dangers posed to the DPRK and the world by the US hegemonistic manoeuvres and of its regressive disregard for international law and the UN Charter. He spoke of the challenges facing the solidarity movement and the need to step up its work. He paid warm tribute to the work of Guy Dupre, the Secretary General of CILRECO. Kim Sou Ik, General Delegate of the DPRK to France and Ambassador to UNESCO, paid tribute to the work of CILRECO over 25 years. He gave warm thanks for its solidarity and said he was sure the International Seminar would stimulate great interest in the international community regarding respect for the UN Charter and the DPRK. He wished further success to the work of CILRECO in mobilising all social and political forces. The seminar was then opened for a lively and rich discussion. At its conclusion a Declaration was adopted. This will be published later.

In the evening a celebratory banquet was held at the Moulin de Champlan near Paris. Speeches were given by Guy Dupre, Secretary General of CILRECO, and Romesh Chandra, Honorary President of the World Peace Council and Honorary President of CILRECO. After a splendid meal, an evening of festive song was led by local French singers and by the families from the Korean diplomatic community.

On March 10, the Presidency of CILRECO held its annual meeting, also in Paris.

Intervention of Chris Coleman, RCPB(ML), to International Seminar

Briefly, I am moved to say what an honour it is to participate in this international seminar held to celebrate CILRECO’s 25th anniversary along with so many veteran campaigners for peace and reunification in Korea as well as the delegation from the DPRK.

Last year at this time we discussed the positive developments stemming from the historic North-South Declaration of the previous June, although even then dark clouds were gathering even in the first weeks of George W Bush’s presidency. Now we have the direct military threat of the "axis of evil" speech which, even if Bush was forced to temper his words by pressure in China and South Korea, still poses very great dangers to the DPRK and to the people of the whole world. And coming for Britain it is particularly disturbing that the same Blair government which little over a year ago in Clinton’s time took the positive step to establish full diplomatic relations with the DPRK, now in Bush’s time comes out as the most bellicose ally and mouthpiece of US aggression, attempting to impose the rule of the monopolies over the peoples of the entire world and abandoning the principles of international relations, as Professor Charvin has pointed out, established at the end of the Second World War.

This dangerous situation, it seems to us, underlines the importance both of the 25 years of CILRECO’s work and of the work it must do from now on, campaigning for the right of the Korean people to reunify their country peacefully and independently, in particular according to the principles laid down by the great leader Kim Il Sung and clarified by Kim Jong Il, so brilliantly crystallised in the North-South Joint Declaration, and campaigning for the withdrawal of US forces from South Korea, the main block to the implementation of that declaration.

We think also that all progressive people should support the "Army-First" policy of the DPRK, which has built the DPRK as an impregnable fortress which an enemy would attack at its peril. We are sure that the firm stand of the DPRK under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il will continue to guarantee its independence and sovereignty, its chosen system, and will lead whatever the difficulties to the long-fought-for reunification of the homeland.

We wish success to the solidarity work of all the participants in their own countries. Thank you.

The US Government Will Never Have The Moral Authority To Fight Terrorism, As Long As It Continues To Use Such Practices Against Countries Like Cuba

Speech given by President Fidel Castro at the ceremony to decorate the mothers and wives of the five Heroes of the Republic of Cuba imprisoned in the United States, held at the Karl Marx Theatre, Havana, on March 8, 2002.

(Translation of the Transcript of the Council of State)

Compatriots:

Throughout history we have paid tribute to legendary heroes and heroines, those glorious examples of bravery, unselfishness and the spirit of sacrifice that always inspire whole generations in their fight for a better, more humane and fairer world. There have, however, been very few times when we have been able to live alongside those men and women.

The five Heroes of the Republic of Cuba imprisoned in the empire, their admirable mothers and wives, our contemporaries and the pride of our country, have deeply touched the hearts of their people and, we can say, in every one of our sons and daughters, without exception.

They are here today, on International Women's Day, in a moving and solemn ceremony that will surely never fade from our memories as they receive the Mariana Grajales and Ana Betancourt Orders, are Carmen, Magali, Irma and Mirta; Adriana, Rosa Aurora, Olga and Elizabeth; the mothers and wives of Gerardo, Fernando, René, Antonio and Ramón.

Absolutely innocent of the charges, after 16 months of isolation and seven months of a rigged trial where the lies, hypocrisy and cynicism of the accusers were shattered, three have been sentenced to life imprisonment and two to long stretches in jail.

In yet another manifestation of rage and hate, they continue to receive heartless and brutal treatment. Thinking that their morale and strength can be destroyed, the courts have put them in five top-security prisons, with a minimum of 1,400 kilometres between each jail, after a hazardous and cruel journey, always held in punishment cells, and then thrown into the general population of prisons where control, impartiality and moral leadership are conspicuous by their absence. This is a harsh test of our heroes' unshakeable strength and valour. And this is being done to men who, seeking information about terrorism, were defending their people to the death.

Alleging the same objective, the United States has launched all its forces to invade nations, using its most sophisticated and destructive weapons, declaring a long, indefinite and imprecise world war against terrorism.

With the height of superiority and arrogance, it has threatened more than 80 countries and taken the liberty to indicate which are, or are not, terrorists. It also has the gall to mention Cuba among those terrorist nations, when in reality thousands of Cubans have died as a result of terrorism from t he United States, and not one single US citizen has suffered the slightest scratch or harm from any act of this type by Cuba.

It goes without saying that our country cannot be intimidated. By using such stupid threats, they are banging their heads against a brick wall.

The US government must ask Cuba's forgiveness for the thousands of acts of aggression, sabotage and terrorism committed against our country for the last 43 years. The US government must ask Cuba's forgiveness for over three decades of economic war and the total blockade of food and medicine; these are genocidal acts which even in times of war are sanctioned by 1948 and 1949 international treaties signed by both nations. The US government must compensate our country for crimes that have caused enormous suffering and the loss of tens of thousands of lives. The US government must break with the Miami terrorist mafia, which organised and financed brutal acts of terror such as the explosion of a Cuban aeroplane in full flight with 73 passengers on board, all of whom perished, and the innumerable bomb attacks on Cuban buildings and hotels, hundreds of assassination attempts on leaders of the Cuban Revolution, biological warfare against people, animals and plants. The US government must arrest and try Orlando Bosch, the well-known terrorist who, along with others, freely walks the streets of Miami. The US government must stop protecting Posada Carriles and demand that justice be done for him and the other criminals who brought scores of kilogram s of extremely powerful explosives into Panama, planning to kill hundreds of young university students with the aim of assassinating the Cuban delegation to the Ibero-American Summit, in Panama City. The US government must eliminate the Torricelli Act, the Helms-Burton Act and numerous amendments aimed at tightening up the blockade against our country. The US government must eliminate the murderous Cuban Adjustment Act, which has cost the lives of so many women, children, elderly and other citizens, and continues to take the lives of the people of Cuba.

The US government must discuss with Cuba the illegal and arbitrary occupation of a piece of our territory, to come to an agreement about when it will be returned to our country. The US government must respect the Cuban people's right to self-determination, as well as the economic and political system it has decided to follow.

The US government will never have the moral authority to fight terrorism as long as it continues to use such practices against countries like Cuba, and continues to support massive, repugnant and brutal massacres such as those being perpetrated by its ally, the state of Israel, against the Palestinian people. It must renounce its policy of world domination, stop intervening in other countries, respect the authority of the United Nations and honour the treaties it has signed. These are indispensable requisites for achieving a climate of peace in the world and eradicating that odious scourge of terrorism.

Our heroes must be freed. The whole world will learn of the enormous injustice committed against them. Millions of books will tell the truth and send out Cuba's message. Sooner rather than later, our comrades will come home! No matter what it costs or where they are, their relatives will exercise their right to visit them every month, and bring them the encouragement and affection of all their people. (applause)

Eternal glory to the heroic sons of Cuba, (shouts of "glory!") to the mothers who bore them and raised them, (shouts of "glory!") to the wives and children who contributed lovingly to creating their will of iron and invincible spirit! (shouts of "glory!") Hasta la victoria siempre! Patria o Muerte! Venceremos!

"Stop Bush and Blair's War; No to Attacks on Iraq"

May Day March

It is now confirmed that this year’s London May Day march will end with a rally in Trafalgar Square.

This year May Day – International Workers Day – falls on Wednesday 1st May. The march will assemble in Clerkenwell Green at 12 noon and proceed to Trafalgar Square, for a rally beginning at about 2.30pm.

Rally speakers will include Tony Benn, Barry Camfield (T&G), Ruth Winters (FBU), Mark Serwotka (PCS), Diane Abbott MP plus other MPs. trade unionists, environmentalists and anti-capitalists.

Marches to Trafalgar Square are forbidden on days when Parliament is in session, under a Sessional Order dating from 1829. Despite this, the Mayor of London has made the Square available and the Metropolitan Police have agreed to the march, on the understanding that this does not set a precedent and that the march will be disciplined and orderly.

The London May Day Organising Committee has welcomed into membership Globalise Resistance and the rally in the Square will be a joint trade union/GR event, with speakers and a wide variety of cultural acts.

This year’s slogan is – UNITED FOR MAY DAY.

News as it develops can be found at www.glatuc.org.uk

In Liverpool, a series of events is being organised around May 1 and Workers Memorial Day on April 28.